Method of packing leaf tobacco



April 30, 1940.

J. ROSENBERG METHOD OF PACKING LEAF TOBACCO Filed Nov. 13, 1937 PatentedApr 30, 1940 PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF PACKING LEAF 'roBAooo JosephRosenberg, West Hartford, Conn. Application November 13, 1937, SerialNo. 174,409

My invention relates to the class of receptacles that-are employed forstorage and other purposes to containand protect tobacco in the leaf"condition, and an object of my invention, among others, is theprovision of areceptacle in which tobaccoin the leaf condition may bepacked and stored with little liability to injury or deterioration byreason of atmospheric conditions, insects, or other'causes; and afurther object of the invention is to provide a'receptacle having meanswhereby the tobacco contents may be readily inspected as to all portionsaround the outer surface of the mass. v

One former" a device embodying my invention and inthe construction anduse of which the objects 'hereinset out,-as" Well as others, may beattained is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in Which- I a IFigure 1 is an isometric perspective View illustrating the use of myimproved container and a step in the operation of enclosing tobaccotherein.

Figure 2 is. a similar view. illustrating my improved container and; astillv further step in the operation of enclosing tobacco therein. 1

Figure 3 is another similar view illustrating still a further step inthe operation. v Figure 4 is still another similar view illustrating thefinal step in the operation of enclosing the tobacco in the case. r

Figure 5 is an isometric perspective viewof the case closed to containthe tobacco.

In the packing and storing of tobaccoin the leaf form during certainstages before manufacture it is essential that the tobacco leaves shallbe protected from injury from various causes as moisture, insects, etc.and particularly from dryness, or other atmospheric conditions. It isalso essential that access may be had to the leaves for the purpose ofinspection to ascertain the condition of the mass. My inventioncontemplates the formation of a mass of tobacco leaves and a receptacletherefor which shall protect the mass from injury or deterioration and vwhich at the same time provides means for ready access to differentportions of the mass for the purpose of inspection. My improved packingreceptacle, as illustrated in the drawing herein, comprises two sectionswhich are preferably of substantially the same construction. .In asatisfactory form they are composed of heavy paper board or similarmaterial and each section comprises a top or bottom with flaps hingedlyunited to the four edges thereof, said flaps having means for securingthem in their closed positions, which means, however, may be readilyunfastened to (01. 131 -149) loosen the flaps. .Thetwo sections of thecase or receptacle are united in a manner to permit them to be readilydisconnected so that one section may be removed from the other, or topermit the flaps to be opened outwardly when desired, and

the two sections are also arranged to permit of contraction or expansionof the tobacco mass within the case.

Such structure, as shown in the drawing herein, comprises a top'sectionincluding a top 5. and sides'S. The sides are separated at the corners land they are united to the several edges of the top by hinges shwhichmay be formed by scoring the material so that it may be readily bent. Ashereinbefore mentioned this material of which the sections are composedis of heavy cardboard or the like. Each section is formed from arectangularly shaped blank of proper size to produce 1 the top and thesides, and the blank is cut out i the fold to provide the hinges 8. Thetop and bottom of the two sections form bases for the support of thehinged sides.

The bottom section II) is of similar construction to that justdescribed, comprising a bottom or base with the several sides ll hingedto the bottom and adapted to be folded into the form as shownin Figs. 3and 4'.

As a means for securing the sides of both sections so that-access to thecontents may be readily gained holes l2 are formed at intervals throughthe sides of both the bottom and to? sections, these holes beingpreferably extended in a line parallel to the outer edges or sides, anda cord l3 or other flexible element is woven through these holes, asclearly shown in the drawing. This will enable the flaps or sides to beopened out as shown in Fig. 2, and by drawing the cord taut and securingthe ends together in any suitable manner thesides may be folded into theposition shown in Figs. 3 and 4, in which condition a partially enclosedcase is provided.

In theoperation of enclosing a mass of tobacco within -my improved casethe lower section of the mass is thenpressed into the box to thethickness desired, this section of the container being pressed into thebox together with the tobacco. The sides of the box are then removedleaving the mass as shown in Fig. 2, the flaps of the lower section ofthe container are turned up and those of the upper section are turneddown. The cord or rope I3 is now woven through the holes l2, if it hasnot previously been so placed. It is drawn taut and the ends may besecured as by means of knots I 4 at one'or more of the corners and asshown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing. After the tobacco mass has beencompressed in the manner as above described and the two sections of thecase are secured in place as shown in Fig. 3, a space i5 is left betweenthe facing edges of the two sections. This space is provided in order topermit sampling of different portions of the mass without undulydisturbing the tobacco therein, to allow for shrinkage and expansionwhich may afterward take place, and also to allow the tobacco to have areasonable amount of air.

This space is finally closed by means of a sleeve I1 consisting of astrip or strips of material, as cardboard, which is Wrapped around thecase to cover the space l5, and as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing. Theends of the sleeve are not secured but overlap one another. The sleeveis secured in place by means of a cord or rope l8 which is laced throughthe loops formed by the cords E3 on the top and bottom sections, saidcord or rope l8 being laced alternately through the loops on saidsections, and as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing. The sleeve liesin back of the lacings and the latter also secure the top and bottomsections together as shown in Fig. 5.

This lacing may be loosened or drawn tighter to provide for expansion orshrinkage which may subsequently take place.

When it is desired to sample the mass the lacings may be loosened forthe purpose and the sleeve may be opened out as shown in Fig. 3.Further, the knots hi may be untied and the flaps opened out for furtheraccess to the mass if desired.

It will be seen that my improved package arranged and constructed asdescribed affords a ready means for enclosing a mass of tobacco leaveswith ample provision for shrinkage or expansion which may subsequentlytake place and with ready means for gaining" access to the entire massfor the purpose of sampling, such means enabling the case to be readilyrestored to its former condition after the sampling.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I havedescribed the principles of operation of my invention, together with thedevice which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof;but I desire to have it understood that the device shown is onlyillustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other meansand applied to uses other than those above set out.

I claim:

l. The method of packing tobacco that consists in placing a fiat blankwith flaps at its opposite edgeaplacing a moldupon said blank, packingthe tobacco leaves in said mold to form a mass of substantially thelength and width of the flat portion of the'blank, removing said mold,placing a second blank of a shape similar to the first on the mass,closing the flaps on both blanks against the mass and securing them inplace to form two sections of a receptaclaplacing a sleeve around themass to overlap the two sections, and then lacing a cord through loopsin the two sections to secure said sleeve in place and to secure the twosections together.

2. The method of packing tobacco that consists in placing a fiat blankwith flaps at its opposite edges, placing a mold upon said blank,packing the tobacco leaves in said mold to form a mass of substantiallythe length and width of the flat portion of the blank, removing saidmold, placing a second blank of a shape similar to the first on themass, and securing them in place to form two sections of a receptacleand then lacing a cord through loops in the two sections to secure themtogether.

JOSEPH ROSENBERG.

